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Little Fur #3
A Mystery of Wolves
Little Fur goes in search of her friend, Ginger the cat, who has vanished completely in this third book in the Little Fur quartet. The wise Sett Owl tells Little Fur that she must first discover who or what the Mystery of Wolves is. The only creature Little Fur finds who has heard of them is a mad prophet. He explains that the Mystery of Wolves is a mystic order of wolves who dwell in the high mountains to the east of the city.
On an adventure that leads to more than just Ginger, Little Fur learns more
about her long-gone father and mother and ultimately risks everything she
loves to save the mysterious and dangerous humans who do not even
know she exists.
On an adventure that leads to more than just Ginger, Little Fur learns more
about her long-gone father and mother and ultimately risks everything she
loves to save the mysterious and dangerous humans who do not even
know she exists.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
4 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Isobelle Carmody
104 books1,735 followersIsobelle Carmody began the first novel of her highly acclaimed Obernewtyn Chronicles while she was still in high school. The series has established her at the forefront of fantasy writing in Australia.
In addition to her young-adult novels, such as the Obernewtyn Chronicles and Alyzon Whitestarr, Isobelle's published works include several middle-grade fantasies. Her still-unfinished Gateway Trilogy has been favorably compared to The Wizard of Oz and the Chronicles of Narnia. The Little Fur quartet is an eco-fantasy starring a half-elf, half-troll heroine and is fully illustrated by the author herself.
Isobelle's most recent picture book, Magic Night, is a collaboration with illustrator Declan Lee. Originally published in Australia as The Wrong Thing, the book features an ordinary housecat who stumbles upon something otherworldly. Across all her writing, Isobelle shows a talent for balancing the mundane and the fantastic.
Isobelle was the guest of honor at the 2007 Australian National Science Fiction Convention. She has received numerous honors for her writing, including multiple Aurealis Awards and Children's Book Council of Australia Awards.
She currently divides her time between her home on the Great Ocean Road in Australia and her travels abroad with her partner and daughter.
Librarian's note: Penguin Australia is publishing the Obernewtyn Chronicles in six books, and The Stone Key is book five. In the United States and Canada this series is published by Random House in eight books; this Penguin Australia book is split into two parts and published as Wavesong (Book Five) and The Stone Key (Book Six).
In addition to her young-adult novels, such as the Obernewtyn Chronicles and Alyzon Whitestarr, Isobelle's published works include several middle-grade fantasies. Her still-unfinished Gateway Trilogy has been favorably compared to The Wizard of Oz and the Chronicles of Narnia. The Little Fur quartet is an eco-fantasy starring a half-elf, half-troll heroine and is fully illustrated by the author herself.
Isobelle's most recent picture book, Magic Night, is a collaboration with illustrator Declan Lee. Originally published in Australia as The Wrong Thing, the book features an ordinary housecat who stumbles upon something otherworldly. Across all her writing, Isobelle shows a talent for balancing the mundane and the fantastic.
Isobelle was the guest of honor at the 2007 Australian National Science Fiction Convention. She has received numerous honors for her writing, including multiple Aurealis Awards and Children's Book Council of Australia Awards.
She currently divides her time between her home on the Great Ocean Road in Australia and her travels abroad with her partner and daughter.
Librarian's note: Penguin Australia is publishing the Obernewtyn Chronicles in six books, and The Stone Key is book five. In the United States and Canada this series is published by Random House in eight books; this Penguin Australia book is split into two parts and published as Wavesong (Book Five) and The Stone Key (Book Six).
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 10, 2023
So sweet 🥰
November 26, 2019
Winter has fallen in A Mystery of Wolves, the third book in the Legend of Little Fur series by Isobelle Carmody.
Ginger, the cat, has still not returned from the expedition to Underth, and Little Fur is worried about him. So she travels to the Sett Owl, who directs Little Fur to go to the mountains and seek out the Mystery of wolves.
Traveling with a wolf called Greysong, Little Fur discovers a dangerous plot, involving her.
Not only must she save herself and Ginger, but also the wolfpack ruled by a malevolent spirit.
Whimsical, sweet and dreamy, and with the love and trust of animals, this is amazing.
December 12, 2021
The story of Little Fur gets better and better. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially seeing the strings pulling together and the world and narrative growing more complex. Really, there’s a lot of simple wisdom in these children’s books, wisdom for adults as much as kids. They’re the sort of books that make me want to have kids so I can read these to them.
January 9, 2021
Little Fur heads to the mountains to save Ginger the Cat and it turns out to be a more complicated adventure than she anticipates. Bringing in ideas of the wisdom of silence and the power of knowledge Isobelle Carmody has created an engaging story for young readers that will delight.
January 7, 2018
How does Carmody do it? These books are so short but when you get to the end of one you feel like there was enough detail for a huge book! Always enjoy the Little Fur books.
April 22, 2025
delightful
April 10, 2017
A Mystery of Wolves is a delightful story of the elftroll Little Fur and her mission to save her friend. This is the 3rd book in the Little Fur series which has a focus on the environment and animal/human interactions. In a way this series is a commentary on the effects that humans have left on the earth, but it is told in fantastical way.
I love Isobelle Carmody's writing! She is able to produce very vivid descriptions without slowing down the pace of the story. The writing in the story is enchanting and draws you in, so that you don't want to put it down.
I adore the characters! All the characters, other than Little Fur, are animals and there are no human characters. I love how Carmody captures the different essences of the various animals to give them characteristics but still each individual character has as unique voice from the other animals in the story. I also loved how Carmody included the wolves in the story, and subtly looked at the pack mindset. Little Fur is such a delightful character, who is sweet and caring of everyone and everything, and is by far my favourite character.
I enjoyed the plot. It was fast-paced and action packed and kept me gripped. I had an idea of where the story was headed but I was still surprised by the ending. I also had a little revelation that related to a prophecy (I guess?) that involves a previous character, which I was excited by. There were also some delightful illustrations throughout this book that really enhanced the story!
Overall, I loved this book, and I recommend it as a book that you read with your kids because I think it is a story that both adults and children will enjoy. I would also recommend reading this in winter, because I read it in summer and I felt like it is the perfect book to be reading on a stormy night, curled up in front of a fire under a blanket.
I love Isobelle Carmody's writing! She is able to produce very vivid descriptions without slowing down the pace of the story. The writing in the story is enchanting and draws you in, so that you don't want to put it down.
I adore the characters! All the characters, other than Little Fur, are animals and there are no human characters. I love how Carmody captures the different essences of the various animals to give them characteristics but still each individual character has as unique voice from the other animals in the story. I also loved how Carmody included the wolves in the story, and subtly looked at the pack mindset. Little Fur is such a delightful character, who is sweet and caring of everyone and everything, and is by far my favourite character.
I enjoyed the plot. It was fast-paced and action packed and kept me gripped. I had an idea of where the story was headed but I was still surprised by the ending. I also had a little revelation that related to a prophecy (I guess?) that involves a previous character, which I was excited by. There were also some delightful illustrations throughout this book that really enhanced the story!
Overall, I loved this book, and I recommend it as a book that you read with your kids because I think it is a story that both adults and children will enjoy. I would also recommend reading this in winter, because I read it in summer and I felt like it is the perfect book to be reading on a stormy night, curled up in front of a fire under a blanket.
April 21, 2008
I wonder how many little girls had their little-girl-daydreams in shades of green and blue instead of pink: living all alone in the wilderness (albeit a wilderness with hot running water and central heating) with a menagerie of owls, wolves, foxes, hares, crows, and so forth to talk to and take care of. Certainly I was among them. And certainly the Little Fur books were written precisely for that demographic.
Little Fur is half elf and half troll, and she lives all alone in the wilderness and acts as a healer to the creatures who show up in her forest. It’s a modern day setting, with humans and cars and churches and gas stations, but magic keeps the humans from ever being aware of magic, or of Little Fur. This book, third in the series, has her questing after her lost cat Ginger; following an owl’s advice, she frees a wolf from the city zoo and ventures in search of a wolf pack known as the Mystery.
When I saw Pirates of the Caribbean, I was almost uncomfortable at how brazenly the movie pandered to its target audience. I was the target audience, and I loved the movie, and yet - I wanted for it to once cut against the grain of “What does the audience want?” I suppose I feel the same way about this book. It’s too eager to please me, too daydreamy; I want it to be more cantankerous. That feeling is only enhanced by the illustrations, which are charmingly like what my friends were drawing in fifth grade, and the dialogue - when it tries to be Deep and Serious - does in fact sound like a fifth grader trying to be Deep and Serious.
It’s an enjoyable adventure and a deeply charming book, but the fondness I have for it is more a fondness for my childhood daydreams than anything to do with literary value.
Little Fur is half elf and half troll, and she lives all alone in the wilderness and acts as a healer to the creatures who show up in her forest. It’s a modern day setting, with humans and cars and churches and gas stations, but magic keeps the humans from ever being aware of magic, or of Little Fur. This book, third in the series, has her questing after her lost cat Ginger; following an owl’s advice, she frees a wolf from the city zoo and ventures in search of a wolf pack known as the Mystery.
When I saw Pirates of the Caribbean, I was almost uncomfortable at how brazenly the movie pandered to its target audience. I was the target audience, and I loved the movie, and yet - I wanted for it to once cut against the grain of “What does the audience want?” I suppose I feel the same way about this book. It’s too eager to please me, too daydreamy; I want it to be more cantankerous. That feeling is only enhanced by the illustrations, which are charmingly like what my friends were drawing in fifth grade, and the dialogue - when it tries to be Deep and Serious - does in fact sound like a fifth grader trying to be Deep and Serious.
It’s an enjoyable adventure and a deeply charming book, but the fondness I have for it is more a fondness for my childhood daydreams than anything to do with literary value.
April 23, 2009
I liked this book better than the other Little Fur books. Not sure why--maybe because it was about wolves and I love wolves. :) Or maybe because Little Fur is learning about herself and her family. It was a good continuation of the story and I look forward to the next.
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April 4, 2009i love this! it is a very compelling story
July 29, 2011
I'm loving the mythology of this series. This book takes Little Fur off into an unfamiliar wilderness, rather than into the city. This opens up a vast scope for world development. A good read.
November 16, 2012
Things get very dark for Little Fur in this book. A real winter tale. Sets the scene beautifully for the series finale (in Spring).
October 11, 2019
Really great, and we're getting some Little Fur backstory!
April 9, 2016
Love the Little Fur books. The Earth Energy is strong....
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews